Coulthard Wants Hakkinen Back Already

Mika Hakkinen has said that his former McLaren teammate David Coulthard has already called for him to come back from his sabbatical.

Hakkinen, who will take a year out from racing in 2002 and will be replaced by fellow Finn Kimi Raikkonen, revealed that Briton Coulthard wants him to test for the team next season.

"David has asked me already to come and test," said Hakkinen at a press conference in Prague. "It was a little surprise for me, but I think the question was very serious.

"But at the moment I'm in a situation that I'm taking time off and spending time with my family as much as I can and haven't been thinking about going testing. I don't want to test and there's no contract."

Hakkinen, who will spend the year with his wife Erja and his son Hugo, said a return to racing in 2003 will be hard, but he is confident he will keep up to speed with developments on the car.

"There are so many complicated issues that can make a return very difficult," he added. "I want to race in the 2003 season and I will have to be very focused on all the developments of the car."